Posted on Jan 11, 2014
Should the U.S. Army have one grooming standard (i.e. hair) for male and females?
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Should we allow well groomed beards like most Professional Armies in the world.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 59
SSG V. Michelle Woods
Negative PFC Mullins. The link below, first comment, lists the new standard that must be adhered to.
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In your opinion, do you believe these groups should have the right to be more lax? If so, with which standards should they be given privilege to waive? If you believe all standards should be followed ...
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SFC Michael Hasbun
He was hired because he has critical skills that the Army desperately needs. I'd say competence and skill outweigh uniformity any day of the week and twice on Sunday..
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
The Army will unfortunately sacrifice competence and skill for something less important.
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MAJ (Join to see)
This captain joined the Army fully knowing the uniform standards. He should comply or he should never have joined!
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I just had this discussion with a few fellow soldiers, we came up with this. If the military had the same grooming standard for all the armed forces, would it be better for each branch. Point one: If the army would let male soldiers grow beards like the navy, would that help soldiers patrolling in villages in the middle east be easy targets or help the military in those areas? In the middle east every male pretty much grows a beard, then a clean shaven soldier comes along, would it show the locals in those villages that we can be like them if male soldier grew beards in those areas. Granted they would have to be trim and neat, not shaggy. Any ideas?
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CW2 (Join to see)
I am from Little Rock, Arkansas I served a little time in the Guard there at Rick's Armory.
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Stop the madness! This standardizing the physical characteritics of men and women the same needs to be met with smart limitations. Our body parts are different with the exception of a few, men and women are not the same so lets not make it that way. The Marine Corps as you may know have postponed their physical fitness changes for women because about half the women couldn't do the minimum 3 pull-ups required by both men and women under the new PFT.
To answer your question Sir, no.
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MSG (Join to see)
So under the same thought process, we should have different standards for an endomorph, mesomorph and ectomorph? The outcome in this matter should not be fudging the current standards so that they fit into the realm in which both females and males can compete as equals. But, to find events in which both males and females can compete as equals.
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MAJ (Join to see)
I agree with SSgt Cullen Fair. We are different, thank God for that. Sometimes better, sometimes worse and
sometimes no better, and no worse.
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SSG (Join to see)
SSgt Fair, I agree with you whole-heartedly.
SSG Graves, you might be on to something, although unintentionally; perhaps you could use these body types (endomorph, mesomorph and ectomorph) in the realm of the ABCP? I mean, anything would be a step up from current standards.
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I think introducing beards into the US military will bring more slack into an already slack Army that can't even keep boot laces tucked in. Once I start seeing people taking care of what they have, they should get no further privileges.
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Unfortunately, most (not all) women in the military break the already fairly lenient rules as it is. Why when I go see our friends in the support role for something I have to see soldiers with 4 different colors of hair, or even 2 colors, or past the back of the collar? If I make the correction, some SGM jumps out like a ninja and tells me I'm being too hard on the females. I say enforce what we have, and senior leaders: stop babying soldiers just because you're scared of an EO complaint...Heaven forbid you hold both genders to the standard.
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No, the gender hairstyles are different and we should not conform ourselves into robots. I would however consider revising the grooming standards on beards for males.
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![1px xxx](/assets/1px-xxx-e1260c8682ae4cddd408aba1ce359e866b1699a6dca26b4bf9da1f41d9dde39e.png)
Suspended Profile
I am not certain about today's NBC/CBW/CBRNE environment. But, in my day, facial hair substantially interfered with high altitude oxygen, diving masks, fire fighting gear, and gas masks.
As a consequence, while some standards were relaxed in some units, perhaps facial hair standards help to protect service members from operating environment risks.
![1px xxx](/assets/1px-xxx-e1260c8682ae4cddd408aba1ce359e866b1699a6dca26b4bf9da1f41d9dde39e.png)
Suspended Profile
My personal opinion, shaving is a waste of time, the only practical solution is permanent, complete and total annihilation of exposed enemy follicles using high power pulsed medical laser treatment.<div><br></div><div>This modern military technology would eliminate the huge waste of time spent on shaving, not to mention adverse side effects, for male and female service members in search of perfect grooming.</div><div><br></div><div>This tech is also very effective against concealed enemy follicles.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>
SGT (Join to see)
I agree. This is a reason why men (and maybe some women!?) have to be clean shaven in order to be properly fitted (and maintain a tight seal all around) for a respirator, SCBA or for a protective mask.
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SFC (Join to see)
LT Annala
I have been been diving, fire fighting, and using other masks that require a seal for well over 18 years, both in the Army and outside. I can count on one hand the number of times I was unable to obtain the appropriate seal with a mask, and those 2 times were when clean shaven. An effective seal can be obtained in a protective mask with a neat and trimmed beard.
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I feel that the standards that are set in place are good they way they are, it's a matter of Soldiers to actually follow those standards. The other problem is for both males and females to be so qick to try and correct other Soldiers without reading the regulation and actually knowing what is within regulation and what is not. Did you know females are allowed to have multiple hair colors as long as they are of natural hair color(s)? The regulation does not say anthing about females not being allowed to have two-toned hair colors. If you read the regulation, the only thing two-toned females are not allowed to have is nails.
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SFC (Join to see)
Amen sister! The one thing that I can't stand is someone correcting me without even knowing the female standard. I don't care if your a CSM, if you have a female in your BDE/BN or wherever, you should know our standards. I have had to know the male standards from day one of being an NCO!
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
SGT Hess
You bring up a great point. I went to correct a LT in my unit for having highlights because I thought it was out of regs. Turns out you're right, we CAN have highlights and it's IAW AR 670-1. Goes to show how important reading those regs are.
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CPT William Jones
Before correcting anyone the person thinking of doing correction should be fluent in the reg and know exactly what is being done incorrectly IN my work experience both while in service and in civilian work after I have dealt with regulations of different types and had people say do this or that because someone told the corrector and it was wrong. If you have not personally read the reg in my opinion you are not qualified to make a correction.
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